The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-01
A Suggestion that Bustles Be Charged
for the Extra Space They Ss>.-,T.
Mr. Wilder Tells of His Gracious Reception by
the Prince of Waies-His Highness Pro-
nounced Fine Type of Good Fellow.
CLARA BELLE.

Special to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal
New YORK, April 30.-The Fifth avenue girl
of advanced fashionable ideas carries a snuff
box in her pocket. Occasionally she takes it
out with her gloved fingers toys with il little to
show off the jewels that are set into it's ornate
cover, coyly touches the spring that pops it open.
pinches some of the contents between her thumb
and forefnger, CONVEYS it deity to her nose.
and lazily shifts. Do l mean to say that our
exquisite maidens have gone to snuff-takincf o
no. The substance thus smelt is perfuned pow
DER but in the innocent indulgence as much of
airy srace is used as any beau of the last CEN
fury put into snuihng.
But the girls not having all the pretty
freaks to themselves. The married bellies are
INDUCING in pastime which is quite impossible
to the maids. The ado in Washington over the
Whitney baby has aroused the young matrons
of the Astcr clique-which includes the Whit
neys when they are at home-to lively pride
in their infants. and it is uncommon sight in
Fifth avenue a sunny morning the in
fantile exhibits parade. Each affair consists
of baby, exquisitely clothed, the arms of
natty nurse maid, with the mother alongside.
It is not correct. just now. to use a perambu-
lator for these exhibition outings. The bit of
humanity must be codded in the arms of
mental. and the prettier she is the better The
maternal parent is clad in a seasonable street
dress of rather plain Sort and it is her Office
to carry q parasol over tootsy's face. These
doings between 8 and 10 IN the morning,
which hour, by strange chance, is the one when
the avenue is most peop pied by the men Of wealth
on their way to business.
Ladies' day at the Lotos Club is one of the fun
niest things in New York It is better diversion
than double ring circus with four clowns. I'm
agne several larger rooms so crowded by women
that locomotion becomes difficult, and
standing still a matter that requires muscle and
skill All are talking at once, and all radiating
sweet smiles in the direction of the dozen or so
lone, lorn who wander about with their
faces set in super-agreeable smiles. The ladies
who were present this week represented some
very different degrees of social status if one
light judge by their clothes, which took il all
grades, styles and kinds. from extremely elegant
street costumes to some of the most do wdyish
looking affairs that ever were seen outside of a
fourth-rate boarding house. But their wearers
all chartered at once just the same if they all
had been uniformly dressed ia silks and velvets,
and all alike subiimely unconscious of what
they wore and what the others said. In the
Bahel-like din it was possible to catch. now and
then, parts of sentences upon all imaginable sub
jects, from a cure for rheumatism to learned crit
cism of the pictures on the walls. But not one
of the hundred and fifty heard an entire sentence
during the whole afternoon. unless she got off in
a secluded corner and whispered it herself.
The men were pitiful objects, for such a pack
of women will abash even a Lotos Club man,
unless he is bald and wears eyeglasses. BY the
time he has reached that stage he is capable of
keeping up his courage in any amount of CHATTER
and of moving successfully about among any
number of the most bouffant of tournures Why
is it that men have never raised howl of pro-
test against the hustle IN pubic2 1t takes mp a
great deal more room than the highest bonnet
that was ever invented. and in any public gath
ering is as much in the way an article Of dress
could be. The average woman with bonnet and
hustle on ought to be charged double price for
admission to all public entertainments, because
when she goes in, comes out, or gets up she and
her hustle occupy double space and when she
sits down she and her bonnet fill two seats her
own and the one behind her. The Lotos Club
men managed themselves and the tournures
very well, and went about smiling exagger-
atedly figures. One old beau,
constant habitue of the club-rooms sand
most experienced man -about-town, portly,
bald headed, grey-whiskered, and eye glassed for
the occasion into imitation of beamng faith
erliness, had delightful time. He could enter
tain half dozen women at once and be equal ly
charming to all. He had as much skill as an ex-
perienced coquette. He would put up his fore
finger at one lady in a way that was too killing
for anything shake his curling grey locks be-
witchingly at another, fold his hands demurely
and pretend to listen to a third. while he made
believe pout at fourth. The old fellow enjoyed
it all better than any girl there.
Did you ever observe how much younger a
1z>Jx H..
when she is in conversation with one of her own
sex2 A good example Of this odd psychological
fact was presented by semi pretty woman in
lace sleeves and a cunning little bonnet that was
perched atop of mass of short brown curls.
While she talking to the old beau, and ap-
pearing vivaclous and deeply interested, she
looked young. pretty sweet and amiable Five
minutes later she was speaking to one of her
own sex, and was ten years older ugly and ILL
natured.
When Marshal p Wilder, the grotesque,
hunchbacked little humorist went to London he
was so lucky as to secure the patronage of the
Prince of Wales. The circumstances inter
esting, as they reveal state of society unknown
in this country, and showing how the Prince
conducts himself Wilder had heard that one
plaudit from the Princes hands would be worth
dollars and dollars to himself, and was naturally
very DESTROYS of getting his Royal Highness for
an auditor AS he tells it, the way they do that
sort of thing is this: Suppose some lady gets
up an en- terrain ment in benefit of charity, or
for any other purpose, aud invites the Prince. In
case he his intention of being present,
list of entertainers is given to him. and he Sc
lects those whom he would like to hear That he
picked out my name with others from a long list
on the occasion | shall speak of was due to the
suggestion of Irving 1t was entertainment
given the Grosvenor House. the residence of
the Duke of Westminster. The hall, in expecta-
ton of the Princes coming, was provided with
q lot of easy chairs and sofas in the front.
Whenever it is known that the Prince is to be
present. every body comes early, for il would be
grave disrespect for anyone to arrive later than
his Hghness. The Prince himself is very prompt,
but he never comes In until "a minute or two
latsr than the hour. possibly to allow any delin-
quents opportunity get into their proper
places. Then be enters with considerable
fornality. Ii he is alone, he walks down the
aisle ahead of his courtiers but if the Princess
of Wales is with him, as this occasion. they